J. B. Jeyaretnam will give a press briefing on the rejection of the Application for the retrial of Vignes Mourthi on 17 October 2003 at 3pm
at the Oxford Hotel, 218 Queen Street. Mr Jeyaretnam will examine the reasons given for the dismissal of the application.
Mourthi pleaded for a retrial citing the possible miscarriage of justice. Vignes Mourthi’s final appeal was dismissed on 25 September. In dismissing the appeal Chief Justice Yong Pung How reportedly told Vignes’s lawyer, “You can say he is an innocent man but as far as the law is concerned, he has been found guilty and convicted. You better say goodbye
to him, that’s all you can do.”
Vignes Mourthi and Moorthy A/L Angappan were hanged at 6 am on 26 September at Changi Prison.
Think Centre will issue a statement against the death penalty. Call on the government to declare a moratorium on death sentences. And urge the government to plan for gradual abolition of the death penalty and to seek
alternatives to the death penalty.
For further information:
J.B.Jeyarethnam
Tel: 6337 2371
Sinapan Samydorai
President
Think Centre
Tel/Fax: 65 – 6425 0709
Mobile: 65 – 9479 1906
Email: samysd@pacific.net.sg
http://www.thinkcentre.org